Dylan Harper may have just played De'Aaron Fox off the Spurs after playoff breakout

When asked about Dylan Harper's impact on the San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castle answered with, "I'm happy he's with us." Spurs fans everywhere are echoing Castle's statement after Game 3, in which Harper completely took over, finishing with 27 points, each one crucial in leading the Spurs back from a double-digit third quarter deficit and gaining a 2-1 edge over the Portland Trail Blazers in a suddenly competitive first round series.

Harper was everything the Spurs dreamed he'd be when they drafted him No. 2 overall just under a year ago. He created (and made) his own shots, looked comfortable from the midrange and beyond the arc, and showcased his breathtaking finishing abilities. Every angle Harper found was more impressive than the last. His body control is already elite; to see it from a rookie is nearly unprecedented.

Sometime during Harper's second-half barrage, it became clear that — whether it happens this offseason, next, or even farther in the future — when the time comes for the Spurs to let Harper loose as the starting guard opposite Stephon Castle, they should have no reservations about what he's capable of.

Trading for De'Aaron Fox was the right decision for this team. Fox was an All-Star in his first full season with the team, and provided a steadying veteran presence, which probably aided Harper's development more than fans realize. But on Friday night, we were presented a vision of the future of this Spurs' backcourt, and it featured Harper and Castle leading the charge.

There's no reason to rush things; having De'Aaron Fox around — who remains a very good player, despite being a bit disoriented in this series — is a net positive for the team. But it's going to get harder and harder for Mitch Johnson not to play Harper 30-plus minutes every night, and we just saw why.

Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are the NBA's best young backcourt

The biggest red flag in both Harper and Castle's games is their supposed lack of outside shooting. Well, in both of their first playoff series, they are a combined 10-22 from 3-point range.

Both look like veterans, and both have carried the Spurs offense at times; a fact that gets even more impressive considering that was done without Victor Wembanyama in Game 3. There are plenty of non-Wemby reasons to be excited about the Spurs future, and these two guys are No. 1 and No. 2. I'll let you decide which guy goes in which spot.

De'Aaron Fox is a good point guard who helped the Spurs this season, and will continue to help the team as the playoffs progress and when Victor Wembanyama returns. It's been the theme of the season that whenever he struggles, fans immediately call for Dylan Harper. When the time comes for the Spurs to part ways with De'Aaron Fox, it will likely be because the front office knows it's time to unleash Harper's full skillset, and the best way to do that is by simply allowing him to play starter's minutes.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow